U.S. Gains Quarterfinals of World Youth Soccer

The United States advanced to the quarterfinals of a world soccer championship for the first time in 59 years Wednesday, despite a 3-1 loss to Brazil in Saudi Arabia.

An earlier tie with Mali and a victory over East Germany, combined with Mali’s 3-0 loss to East Germany Wednesday, advanced the United States to the next round of the fifth World Youth Championship. The United States will play Iraq Saturday at Taif.

The last time an American team succeeded in reaching the quarter-final level was in the first World Cup at Uruguay in 1930.

In Wednesday’s match at Jedda, Troy Dayak of Livermore, Calif., scored his second goal of the tournament and the first to be scored against unbeaten Brazil, but the U.S. did not seriously threaten the favorite.

The American team, composed of players under 20, is the nucleus of the one that will represent the United States in 1992 Olympic qualifying competition. It will also be the home team for the 1994 World Cup.

Tonight in the Coliseum, Mexico will play El Salvador in the championship match of the Los Angeles Soccer Cup at 9 and Costa Rica will play Guatemala at 7. Mexico beat Guatemala Tuesday night, 2-1, and El Salvador edged Costa Rica, 4-3 on penalty kicks.